Invisible & Whitespace Characters
Thin Space
A space about a fifth of an em, used in typesetting for fine adjustments.
- Unicode
- U+2009
Try Thin Space
Edit the text, then change the font and size.
About this entry
What it is
A space about a fifth of an em, used in typesetting for fine adjustments.
Separating a number from its unit, or loosening tight punctuation.
Copy & use
How to copy and use thin space
- 01
Copy the complete value
Use the copy button above so the value is captured without its label, description or surrounding page text.
- 02
Paste it where you need it
Separating a number from its unit, or loosening tight punctuation.
- 03
Check the final result
Apps may trim, reject or normalise invisible characters to prevent abuse. A character that works in one profile field may disappear in another, and moderation systems can change without notice.
Behaviour
How thin space behaves
You cannot see whether this character arrived, so the properties that matter are the ones you can test for.
- Width
- About a fifth of an em, the traditional typesetter's thin space.
- Line breaking
- A space, so a break may occur at it.
- How software treats it
- Used in typesetting to separate a number from its unit, or to loosen tight punctuation. Like other exotic spaces it is frequently normalised to a plain space on save.
- How to check it worked
- Visible as a small but real gap next to a normal space for comparison. Paste it into a field with a character counter and watch the number move, or select across the spot and look for the highlight widening. Both work when there is nothing to see.
Common questions
Using thin space
What is thin space?
A space about a fifth of an em, used in typesetting for fine adjustments. Separating a number from its unit, or loosening tight punctuation.
What is the code point for thin space?
Thin Space is Unicode U+2009. The code point is what makes the character stable: it stays the same wherever the text is pasted, even when a different font draws it at another weight or width.
Will thin space work everywhere?
Apps may trim, reject or normalise invisible characters to prevent abuse. A character that works in one profile field may disappear in another, and moderation systems can change without notice.
Can I customise thin space after copying?
You can add a short label, repeat compatible symbols or trim the design to fit. Keep important spaces, line breaks and uncommon Unicode characters intact while editing.
Also known as
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